Top News:
Peter Abraham / Boston Globe:
Cano tops Gonzalez in Home Run Derby — It's over: Cano hit 12 to win his first title. Nice moment for him and his dad. Great showing by Gonzo, too. — Gonzo ties record: Adrian hit 11, tying the final round record. Now we'll see what Cano can do. — Final round: It'll be Gonzo vs. Cano.
Discussion:
USA Today, Surviving Grady, Pinstripe Alley, AZ Snake Pit, Purple Row, Yahoo! Sports and baseballmusings.com
RELATED:
Dan Hayes / North County Times:
ALL-STAR NOTES: Gonzalez says leave Petco alone — Adrian Gonzalez had no problem reaching the bleachers during Monday night's Home Run Derby at Chase Field. — The Boston Red Sox slugger never homered as prolifically at Petco Park in five seasons with the Padres the way he did in a runner-up performance at the Derby.
Scott Boeck / USA Today:
Home Run Derby: Is it a matter of league or national pride? — PHOENIX - The Home Run Derby, now featuring a National League vs. American League format, took on a new subtitle on Monday: — Gringos vs. Latinos. — That tag came courtesy of a sports reporter from the Dominican Republic during Monday's Derby press conference.
Peter Abraham / Boston Globe:
Beltran open to Red Sox deal — PHOENIX — As the July 31 non-waiver trade deadline creeps closer, right field is a glaring need for the Red Sox. Thy are getting an OPS of .638 from that position, the second-lowest in baseball. — Carlos Beltran of the Mets would fill that need nicely.
RELATED:
Boston Herald:
Carlos Beltran would be cool with deal to Red Sox — PHOENIX — Less than three weeks remain until the trading deadline, and right field is right up there with starting pitching as a spot where the Red Sox [team stats] likely will seek an upgrade. — Two options, Carlos Beltran of the Mets and Hunter Pence of the Astros, are here.
Discussion:
MetsBlog.com
Alex Speier / Full Count:
Beltran: Accepting trade to Red Sox ‘a no brainer’
Discussion:
NESN.com and HardballTalk
John Leland / New York Times:
Returning Jeter's Big Hit: No Good Deed Goes Untaxed (Perhaps) — Here is the fan's fantasy: You go to the ballpark and under a picture-perfect sky not only do the Yankees win, but in recognition of your exemplary behavior, the team also showers you with free season tickets …
Discussion:
HardballTalk, Sliding Into Home, Subway Squawkers and Deadspin
Joe Strauss / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
Mozeliak has blueprint for success — The National League Central has spent more than three months waiting on the Cardinals. — The time never has been better, the Cardinals believe, to make the rest of the division pay. — Nick Punto watched the formula work repeatedly with the Minnesota Twins …
Discussion:
MLB Rumors, HardballTalk, DRaysBay and Full Count
Matt Gelb / Philly.com:
Phillies Notes: Hamels not a fan of All-Star Game pitching rule — PHOENIX - The way Cole Hamels sees it, he's throwing anyway on Tuesday, so why not let him pitch in the All-Star Game? — “I need to find a catcher,” Hamels quipped. “Maybe I'll get [Atlanta's Brian] McCann.”
Discussion:
HardballTalk and CloserNews
Fox Sports:
Jeter sticks by controversial decision — FOX Sports — PHOENIX — New York Yankees shortstop Derek Jeter will not attend the All-Star Game because of “emotional and physical exhaustion” from his pursuit of 3,000 hits, according to two people with knowledge of his mindset.
Discussion:
HardballTalk, Yahoo! Sports, Mets Merized Online, Yankees Daily, NESN.com, Subway Squawkers and Baseball Nation
Adam Rubin / ESPN:
Boras signs K-Rod, to discuss contract with GM — PHOENIX — Agent Scott Boras confirmed he is now representing New York Mets closer Francisco Rodriguez. — Boras and K-Rod had met face-to-face before and after last Thursday's Mets game at Dodger Stadium.
Discussion:
The Knobler Blog, CloserNews, The Yankee Analysts, HardballTalk and MLB Rumors
RELATED:
Matthew Cerrone / MetsBlog.com:
Updated: Yankees are not on K-Rod's no-trade list
Discussion:
Metropolis and MLB Daily Dish
Mike Puma / New York Post:
K-Rod awaits word from Mets on future
Discussion:
CloserNews and Full Count
Troy E. Renck / Denver Post:
Halladay likes this start better than '09 — PHOENIX — Roy Halladay is like a shark. He's purposeful, with no wasted movement. The Philadelphia Phillies' ace is the teeth of baseball's scariest rotation but is totally devoid of hype. — The Rockies have only one player in the All-Star Game.
Discussion:
baseballmusings.com
JonPaulMorosi / mlbbuzz:
Sources: Angels were serious about Garrett Jones — The Pirates and Angels engaged in serious talks earlier this season about a trade that would have sent outfielder/first baseman Garrett Jones to Anaheim and catcher Jeff Mathis to Pittsburgh, major league sources told FOXSports.com.
Discussion:
Full Count and MLB Rumors
Ronald Blum / Associated Press:
Jackson urges All-Stars to speak out against law — PHOENIX—The Rev. Jesse Jackson urged baseball's All-Stars to speak out against the Arizona immigration law, saying they should follow the example set by Jackie Robinson when he broke the sport's color barrier more than a half-century ago.
Discussion:
Yahoo! Sports
